Be 
the news of the surrender of the islands where they are produced; being convinced, 
from the information I had received, that the country in the neigbourhood of Ben- 
coolen, situated as it is in the same latitude with the Moluccas, exposed to the 
same periodical winds, and possessing the same kind of soil, would prove congenial to 
their culture, Under this impression I suggested to the other members of the Board 
the expediency of freighting a vessel for the twofold purpose of sending supplies 
to the forces of Amboina, for which they were in distress, and of bringing in return 
as many spice-plants as could be conveniently stowed. The proposition was acceded 
to, and a vessel, of which I was the prineipal owner (no other could be obtained) 
was accordingly dispatched in July, 1796; but the plan was unfortunately frustrated 
by the imprudent conduct of a person on the civil establishment, to whom the exe- 
cution was entrusted. Soon afterwards however, I had the good fortune to be more 
successful, in an application I made to Capt. Hugh Moore, who commanded the 
Phoenix country ship, to undertake the importation; stipulating with him to pay a 
certain sum for every healthy plant he should deliver. Complete success attended 
the measure: he returned in July 1798 and I had the satisfaction of planting myself, 
and distributing for that purpose, a number of young nutmeg and a few clove trees, 
in the distriets of Bencoolen and Silebar, and other more distant spots, in order to 
ascertain from experience the situations best adapted to their growth. I particularly 
delivered to Mr. Charles Campbell, botanist, a portion to be under his own 
immediate inspeetion; and another to Mr. Edward Coles, this gentleman having 
in his service a family who were natives of a spice island, and had been used to 
the ceultivation. When I quitted the coast in January 1799, I had the gratification 
of witnessing the prosperous state of the plantations, and of receiving information 
from the quarters where they had been distributed, and of their thriving luxuri- 
antly; and since my arrival in England various letters have reached me, to the 
same effect. To the merit, therefore, of introdueing this important article and of 
forming regulations for its successful eulture, I put in my exclusive elaim; and am 
fully persuaded, that if a liberal policy is adopted, it will become of the greatest 
commercial advantage to the Company and to the nation * 
Als Mr. Broff 1799 nach England zurückkehrte, blieb die Haupt- 
pflanzung nach wie vor unter Campbeil’s Leitung, der aber, als er sah, 
wie gut die Bäume gediehen, zur schnelleren Vermehrung der Kultur 
noch eine zweite Sendung von den Molukken aus veranlasste, die be- 
deutend grösser ausfiel; der Sohn des berühmten Botanikers Roxburgh, 
des Direktors des botanischen Gartens von Kalkutta, brachte im Jahre 
1803 nicht weniger als 22000 Muskatpflänzchen von Ambon herüber, 
von denen eins schon nach 2 Jahren 10'/a Monaten blühten, was Lums- 
daine der Einwirkung eines in der Nähe befindlichen See’s zuschreibt. 
Unterdessen hatten vor diesem zweiten Import auch schon die 
ersten Bäume der früheren Sendung geblüht, und zwar schon eine merk- 
würdig grosse Anzahl derselben, obgleich sie erst vor kaum 4 Jahren 
gepflanzt worden waren und nur ca. 5 Jahre seit ihrer Keimung verstrichen 
waren. Im Oktober und November 1802 hatten von einer Zahl von 
weniger als 600 schon 247 Bäume Blüthen, und zwar stellte sich dabei 
15* 
